Thermographic reproduction apparatus wherein the original data is stored on a rotating cylinder



April 4, 1967 v. A; KALMANsoN 3,312,822

, THERMOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION APPARATUS WHEREIN THE ORIGINAL DATA IS STORED 0N A ROTATING CYLINDER April 4, 1967 v gi KALMANsoN 3,312,822

THERMOGRAPHIC REPROD ON APPARATUS WHEREIN THE ORIGINAL DATA IS STORED ON A ROTATING CYLINDER Filed Feb. 24, 1964 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,312,822 Y THERMOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION APPARATUS WHEREIN THE ORIGINAL DATA IS STORED N A ROTATING CYLINDER Vladimir Alexandrovich Kalmanson, Moscow, U.S.S.R.,

assignor to Vsesouzny Institute Nauchnoi i Tekhnicheskoi Informatsii Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,924 3 Claims. (Cl. 250-65) The present invention relates to apparatus for registering data von a thermo-sensitive web.

There are known arrangements for registering the data in electronic digital computers, information and translation equipment by printing the data orrcharacters to be'registered on sensitive paper. i

The machines for carrying out such methods comprise a means for storing the data or characters, a lighting means, a moveable shutter and a means to feed the sensitive belt to the exposure area.

The utilization of the known arrangements, for instance, photoexposure, involves definite complications, as such methods require much time in realization, are cornplicated from the technological Vpoint of view and require photochemicals and photomaterials.

The machines for carrying out such methods were complicated in construction.

All said disadvantages affected the tion of the digital computer data. l

An object of the present invention is to abolish said shortcomings.

To achieve said aims the improved apparatus for regquality of registraistration of the formed events provides for exposing the thermosetting paper to infrared rays, said paper being pressed to the carrier of the data to be registered during thermoexposure.

The machines for carrying out the aims of this invention comprise an infrared source, serving as a lighting means, and the means to feed the thermosetting paper to the exposure area, manufactured as an endless belt penetrable to infrared rays and at the same time serving to press the thermosetting paper to the events.

The machine is suggested in two variants.

FIG. 1 shows one of the possible variants of the machine.

FIG. 2 shows a straightened surface of the disc drum.

FIG. 3 shows another variant of the machine.

In accordance with the first variant the machine functions in the following manner. The entire required set of data or original characters is arranged on the surface of the drum 1, composed by isolated or separate discs 2 so as to have identical data along the generant l of the drum, whereas the entire set of different data or characters is arranged along the periphery l1 of each disc.

The arrangement of the data or characters on the drum surface is shown in FIG. 2, where l is the length of the generant, and l1 is the length of the periphery.

The characters or data applied to the surface of a disc are not salient metal letters, but are printed on white ldense backing (plastic or paper), which is secured on the surface of each disc.

The thermosetting paper.3 runs very near the surface of the disc drum, the paper being a transparent backing coated with 2 thermosetting layers. The discs of the drum 2 stop in their respective phases in rotation and bring the required set of data in line with the exposure area.

Having stored a line in the above manner, the discs stop, the shutter 4 opens and the infrared lamp S, mounted ICC in the reflector 6, performs thermoexposure of the entire line. On penetrating the transparent thermosetting paper infrared rays are reflected from the blank space of the line, and are absorbed by the letter area, and as a result the local temperature rises according to the configuration of each character or data indication, this temperature rise causes irreversible chemical reactions in the thermosetting layer due to which the paper is made obscure in the letter area.

At the moment of thermoexposure the thermosetting paper is firmly pressed to the line, arranged on the discs, by the dense transparent belt 7, for instance, of fluorolone. The endless fluorolone belt has no seam, which fact may be achieved by high frequency current Welding.

The belt is continuously rotating round the rollers 8, lbut at the instant of exposure of the line the axis of one roller is moved so as to make the belt 7 iirmly embrace the disc drum 1 and press the thermosetting paper 3 thereagainst. Then the disc drum with the line formed in the region of characters A cooperates With the moveable belt 7 to draw the thermosetting paper through the exposure area 9, and the line is thus printed on the thermosetting paper. Having passed the exposure area, the belt 7 retracts from the drum, the thermosetting paper stops, and at this instant the disc drum 2 starts revolving to store another line.

The construction may be simplified by manufacturing f the drum as a solid body, shown in FIG. 3. In this case white stock (such as paper or plastic), which can be quickly removedand is provided with a set of printed characters, is mounted on the drum 10. Adequately, individual regulating shuttters 12 are provided along the generant of the drum in the exposure area between the infrared lighting means 11 and the drum, opposite the respective letters. The shutters are opened by the electromagnets 13, and are returned to the initial position by the spring 14.

When this or that letter has to be exposed to thermoprocess the revolving drum stops in the required position, a shutter openskwhere the event has to be printed, and the character is printed on the thermosetting paper or web as a result of thermoexposure.

Therefore, the entire line is printed after successive thermoexposure of individual letters over one complete revolution of the drum.

I claim: f

1. Apparatus for registering data on a thermo-sensitive web comprising a source of infrared radiations, arranged to emit rays at a predetermined exposure area, a first means including an arcuate surface and constituting data storage means having characters to be printed arranged in horizontal and vertically aligned rows, a web of sensitive thermosetting paper for positioning between said exposure area and said iirst means, an endless belt including a portion passing between said surface and said source, said belt being penetrable by such radiation and movable to press said web against said surface to eiect printing, a second means interposed between saidrbelt and said source and movable to selectively block or permit passage of radiation rays, and one of said first and second means including individual components independently adjustably movable'and corresponding in number and position to the number and position of the rows of characters that extend vertically.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said first means comprises an assembly of independently rotatable discs having a common axis and :defining a drum surface and in which said second means comprises a movable aligned, independently adjustable shutters arranged be- 3 4 f' shutter having a single aperture extending coincident in References Cited by the Examiner length With the length of the drum. N E T A 3. A machine as -claimed in claim 1V in which said first U IT D s ATES P TENTS means comprises a single drum, a means carrying a set 2948261 8/1960 McGraw lOl-'129 of data characters detachably secured to said drum and 5 2991705 7/1961 Bryan et aL 9577 said second means comprises a plurality of horizontally 31637-55 p 12/1964 Kotz et al 25o-65 tween said source and said drum in coincidence with the RALPH G' NILSON Primary 'Examiner' Y arrangement of rows of characters on the drum. A. L. BIRCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING DATA ON A THERMO-SENSITIVE WEB COMPRISING A SOURCE OF INFRARED RADIATIONS, ARRANGED TO EMIT RAYS AT A PREDETERMINED EXPOSURE AREA, A FIRST MEANS INCLUDING AN ARCUATE SURFACE AND CONSTITUTING DATA STORAGE MEANS HAVING CHARACTERS TO BE PRINTED ARRANGED IN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICALLY ALIGNED ROWS, A WEB OF SENSITIVE THERMOSETTING PAPER FOR POSITIONING BETWEEN SAID EXPOSURE AREA AND SAID FIRST MEANS, AN ENDLESS BELT INCLUDING A PORTION PASSING BETWEEN SAID SURFACE AND SAID SOURCE, SAID BELT BEING PENETRABLE BY SUCH RADIATION AND MOVABLE TO PRESS SAID WEB AGAINST SAID SURFACE TO EFFECT PRINTING, A SECOND MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BELT AND SAID SOURCE AND MOVABLE TO SELECTIVELY BLOCK OR PERMIT PASSAGE OF RADIATION RAYS, AND ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABLY MOVABLE AND CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER AND POSITION TO THE NUMBER AND POSITION OF THE ROWS OF CHARACTERS THAT EXTEND VERTICALLY. 